WATKINS, JOSEPH DOUGLAS 'DOUG', of Smoke Rise, Alabama passed away Thursday, July 19 after a brief illness. He would have been 85 years old on August 11, and the family will hold a private gathering in his memory on that day.He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Watkins; brother, Edward 'Buck' Watkins; and mother, Hassie Hatfield Watkins. He lived in Morgan County for his teen and early adult years where he met and married his first and only sweetheart, Clara Marie Peters. He was graduated with highest honors from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and worked for US Steel for more than 40 years. Mr. Watkins served in the Navy during World War II as an airplane mechanic. Mr. Watkins is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marie Watkins; two children, Rita Watkins and Tom Watkins, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10005 [Roane County News] ----------